The DJ Test: Listen!

This post is on performing a very simple test anyone can do to make sure they hire the right Disc Jockey. Many people struggle with hiring a DJ because it’s not something they have experience in. Some hire based on a recommendation or a brief meeting. 

Imagine it’s now less than week before your wedding or big event. You’ve spent a year planning every detail, down to the seating arrangements and choosing the perfect font your invitations. Suddenly it occurs to you that you have no idea what your DJs system looks or even sounds like! 

Yikes! 

Will it be a tangle of ugly wires supported by milk crates blasting the kind of sound usually heard over the Walmart intercom? Will the bass be overwhelming, making it impossible to talk and blocking the ability for your guests to think? Will the DJ have incorporated some kind of cheesy lighting to try and cover the unsightliness of his rig?

Thankfully, there is a simple way to evaluate your prospective DJ before you fork over hundreds of dollars as a non-refundable deposit. Forget checking for a business license (anyone can get one), or endorsement by some far removed, "official" DJ association. Send them their required fee and they will endorse you too.

Whether your entertainer is recognized on paper or not, how his or her system SOUNDS is critical. Most DJs are not experts in the technical realm of sound specifications. They may not even know what “signal to noise ratio”, “total harmonic distortion” or “frequency response" is. The good news is, you don’t have to be either!

For many DJs the quality of their sound system is dictated by how much they can afford to spend. The resulting sound may turn out to be shrill (too many highs), unclear or "muddy" and even distorted. This is where your ears and eyes come in. Ask for a LIVE AUDITION so you can gage for yourself how the DJ’s equipment sounds and looks. If your DJ is not willing to "audition" for you, it may be because he is embarrassed by the look or audio quality of his rig. This may be a red flag.

Have the DJ play a song you know. One that that incorporates bass, drums, keyboards and vocals so you get a full range of sounds. Dance songs are usually good. Ask the DJ to turn it up for a moment. Now close your eyes and listen.

You don’t have to be an acoustic expert to know if you like it. Is it full and warm or hollow and “tinny”. Does it sound like an AM radio or more like what you might hear in a movie theatre? Is the base “punchy” but not overwhelming, allowing room for the mids and highs? Are the highs too brassy, making dogs howl and ears bleed? Are the mid-range (vocals) present enough? Is the overall sound flat or is there “depth”?

Remember, this is what you and your guests will be hearing all night long!

Of the top 20 cinema chains in the USA, 75% use JBL sound!

While the sound can be enhanced by the use of equalizers and sonic enhancers, the right speakers are key. Whether it’s JBL, Yamaha, Mackie or others, speakers have their own sound characteristics. And off-brand, budget speakers are often lacking in sound quality. Ask the DJ why he chose the speakers he uses. Often great sounding, name brand speakers are not much more expensive than low-end, budget cabinets. If the DJ is scrimping here to save a couple of bucks, what else is is he cutting corners on?

If there is too much “hiss”- brass or cymbal sounds (highs) or too much bottom end (bass), ask if the DJ can adjust it. The MIDRANGE is where the melody is- warm and full vocals, keyboards and guitar with the highs and lows serving as complimentary bookends.

Now go find the sound YOU like. You’re already an expert as you’ve been listening all your life. Do a little EARWORK and you will feel confident as your event approaches, knowing your guests will experience complete sonic satisfaction!

The Wedding DJ